Shield for inkstands



(No Model.)

R. G. HOPKINS. SHIELD FOR INKSTANDS.

No. 560,409. 'P atented May 19 1896.

WIT'JEEEEE. 44 M ANDREW EGRAHAM. FHm-U'I'HQWASNINGYDND C NITED STATES PAT-ENT FFICE.

ROBERT G. HOPKINS, OFSOMERVIL'LE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHIELD FOR INKS'TANDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,409, dated. May 19, 1896. Application filed September 12, 1895. Serial No. 562,233. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT G. HOPKINS, of

Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and- Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Shields for Inkstands, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in explaining its nature.

The invention is an improvement upon the invention described in the patent to Brown, No. 539,343, dated May 14, 1895; and it consists in means whereby the shield therein described may be automatically fitted .to months of ink-wells varying in size.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an inkstand-shield having the features of my invention applied to an inkstand. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line at a: of Fig. 1, somewhat enlarged, showing its wings flattened or folded against the side of theink-well, as will be hereinafter described. Fig. 3 is a view of my invention before its insertion into an inkstand. Fig. 4 is a View in plan of the shield inserted. Fig. 5 represents a shield having wings differing somewhat in shape from those shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 shows the invention applied to a solid stopper. 7

A represents an inkstand, ct the well thereof, and ct the usual mouth or opening to the well.

B represents the shield as a whole. It comprises the mouthpiece Z), of rigid material, having a wide flange b, inwardly-extending sec tion a hole 12 through which the pen is inserted to the well, and an inclined opening 17 to the hole. The hole b is closed at its bottom by a diaphragm O, of resilient material, like rubber, in which are the cross-slits c, and this diaphragm is secured to the exterior of the projection b by the sleeve 0, which extends upward from the edge of the diaphragm and whenelastic hugs the said projection. The sleeve is of the depth of the projection and it has extending outwardly from its upper edge a wide flange c of resilient or elastic material. Upon the outer side of the sleeve there are a relatively large number of thin resilient or elastic wings c, which extend radially therefrom and may increase in width from the lower end upwardly. They are not united at their upper end to the flange. Upon the insertionof the shield into the mouth of an ink well and the turning thereof these wings are folded from a radial to a tangential relation to the outer surface of the sleeve and form a yielding packing, preferably increasing in thickness from the lower edge of the sleeve to the flange c and serves to firmly hold the shield within the mouth of the well and permit it to be fitted to mouths varying in size, while the flange 0 acts to cover any interstices between the sleeve and the edge of the mouth and to eX- tend upon the top of the inkstand about the entrance to the mouth, forming a packing between the flanged mouthpiece b and the top of the stand about the well, which excludes air and dust from the well. The yielding wings may also be used as a means by which stoppers or any other similar device may be adjusted to varying sizes of opening, in which case the slitted diaphragm and the flange 0 may be dispensed with when not required.

The sleeve bearing the wings may be attached to the mouthpiece -or stopper by its own resiliency or by cement, or in any other desired way.

The wings may taper, as shown in Fig. 4, or may taper at their lower ends only, as shown in Fig. 5, or not at all.

. In Fig. 6 I have shown the device as applied to a solid stopper, the sleeves then being somewhat conical.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A shield for an inkstand-mouth having a slit diaphragm, a sleeve extending from the edge thereof and outwardly-extending resilient wings or ribs.

2. A shield for the mouth of an ink-well having a slit diaphragm, a sleeve extending upwardly from the diaphragm, outwardly-extending resilient wings or ribs and an outwardly-extending flange c 3. In a shield for the mouth of an ink-well, the mouthpiece having a central projection and a hole passing through it and with a slit diaphragm at the end of the said projection and a sleeve surrounding the said projection having outwardly-extending resilient Wings or ribs.

In a shield of the character specified the combination of the mouthpiece having an inward projection and a hole extending through both, the slit diaphragm held to the under side of the projection by a sleeve which surrounds the said projection, a flange extending from said sleeve, and Wings or ribs exten ding from the side of said sleeve outwardly but disconnected from the said flan ge, as and for the purposes described.

A stopper or mouthpiece provided With 

